Garmin International, Inc.

Motorola Corporation

Garmin Switzerland Gmbh

Garmin Corporation

Susan S Chen

Clayton E Barber

Shawn Wesley Hogberg

Merlin J Smith

Kungwel Liu

Thomas Peter Emmons, Jr

Gerald Joseph Davieau

Minan Miin-Nan Lee

Jim Startup

Subhash Uppalapati

Chetan V Kale

Techniques are described for virtual traffic sensors (VTS). In an implementation, an electronic device provides a variety of functionality including at least functionality to determine position. The electronic device may be further configured to ascertain locations of one or more virtual traffic sensors. In at least some embodiments, locations of virtual traffic sensors are determined by the electronic device using a variety of VTS criteria. Using a determined position, the electronic device may detect proximity to the virtual traffic sensors. The electronic device may collect traffic related data when in proximity to the one or more virtual traffic sensors. The electronic device may then communicate the collected traffic data over a suitable network connection to a service provider.

Virtual traffic sensors

A method and apparatus for collecting and analyzing cellular identification (ID) numbers at various geographic locations to estimate cellular tower locations. The method may include collecting cellular ID numbers obtained by collection mobile devices at a plurality of geographic locations then calculating minimum bounding circles encompassing a set of geographic location points with the same cellular identification numbers. If the cellular ID number of a set of location points indicates that the cellular tower is omni-directional, a center of the minimum bounding circle is an estimated cellular tower location. If the cellular ID number indicates that the cellular tower is multi-sector, the apparatus may calculate the estimated cellular tower location as the location at which lines that extend from the centers of a plurality of related minimum bounding circles intersect with each other to form equal angles.

Method and apparatus for estimating cellular tower location

A spatial data search method, system and apparatus for identifying particular data of significance around a reference vector through the spatial data. The method involves determining a reference vector within a spatial region for which spatial data exists, loading a portion of the spatial data including the data around the reference vector into a memory buffer, and searching the spatial data in a prioritized order. The method, system and apparatus have particular utility in searching geographic data for a terrain awareness and warning system ('TAWS') and display in an aircraft. Embodiments of the present invention provide advantages over existing sequential and radial search methods, significantly reducing the processing and calculations required and providing faster alerts to pilots.

System, method and apparatus for searching geographic area using prioritized spatial order

A destination runway selection method, system and apparatus for use with a Terrain Awareness and Warning System ('TAWS'). The method involves determining upon which of a number of candidate runways an aircraft is most likely to land so that appropriate Required Terrain Clearance ('RTC') values and other alert thresholds may be referenced. According to a first aspect of the method, a destination airport is initially selected from among candidate airports. According to a second aspect of the method, a destination runway is selected from among the candidate runways at the destination airport. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the candidate runway is selected solely on the basis of distance calculations between the runway and the aircraft.

Avionics system, method and apparatus for selecting a runway

An avionics system and method is employed for alerting pilots of low premature descent during final landing approach. The method involves determining Final Approach Flight Safety Altitudes for a plurality of runways, identifying which runway an aircraft is likely to land on, and alerting the pilot if the aircraft altitude is lower than the final approach flight safety altitude. The method takes into account terrain information, airport and runway information, and aircraft reference data to make its determination. Particular embodiments reference the Final Approach Fix, one or more step down fix values, the Minimum Descent Altitude and the Missed Approach Point in calculating the Final Approach Flight Safety Altitudes. The system and method have particular utility with a Terrain Awareness and Warning System ('TAWS') and display in an aircraft.

Avionics system and method for providing altitude alerts during final landing approach

A method for allocating network resources of a communication network () to a plurality of users is disclosed. The allocation method includes predicting figure access demand from users and making resource allocation decisions based, at least in part, on the predicted demand.

Method for allocating communication network resources using adaptive demand prediction

A spatial data search method, system and apparatus for identifying particular data of significance around a reference vector through the spatial data. The method involves determining a reference vector within a spatial region for which spatial data exists, loading a portion of the spatial data including the data around the reference vector into a memory buffer, and searching the spatial data in a prioritized order. The method, system and apparatus have particular utility in searching geographic data for a terrain awareness and warning system (&ldquo;TAWS&rdquo;) and display in an aircraft. Embodiments of the present invention provide advantages over existing sequential and radial search methods, significantly reducing the processing and calculations required and providing faster alerts to pilots.

System, method and apparatus for searching geographic area using prioritized spacial order

In a communications system, an earth-based subscriber unit (,, FIG.,) receives at least one communications beam (,, FIG.,) transmitted from one or more moving satellite communications nodes (,). The earthbased subscriber unit evaluates which communications beam should be selected based on the power received (FIG.,), Doppler frequency shift (,), link quality, (,), interference level (,), and satellite and network specific parameters (,). By considering these factors, the earth-based subscriber unit selects the communications beam (,) that will provide the optimum service and reduce the likelihood that an inter-satellite hand over of the call will be required while the call is in progress.

Growing community of inventors

Chandler, AZ, United States of America

Susan S Chen